Elvira: Night of the Ghouls 1993 Horror Movie Review

“For many years I have told the almost unbelievable, related the unreal, and showed it to be more than fact,” drones Ed Wood’s favorite host, platinum-coifed “psychic” Criswell, from his coffin. More than fact, possibly, but less than credible and rather far from competent—but then that’s why we watch Wood’s movies. This pseudosequel to Bride of the Monster refers back to the story of a mad scientist and his monster often enough, but this time the old house is home to a phony spiritualist named Dr. Acula (former B-movie heavy Kenne Duncan) bilking thousands from rich, gullible clients. Opera-loving Lieutenant Bradford (Duke Moore) is sent out in his tuxedo to investigate and tangles with the scarred, angora-loving brute Lobo (Tor Johnson, the only survivor from Bride of the Monster), while the real dead rise to take their revenge on the charlatan Acula. It’s a true Wood production, shot on cramped sets the size of a closet and filled with unrelated stock footage (the prologue is dedicated to the dangers of juvenile delinquency because Wood had leftover scenes from an unfinished film). The part of Acula was originally written for Bela Lugosi, whose hamminess would have brought a touch of theatrical camp to the part, but Criswell’s inflated narration adds just the right touch of histrionics. It’s not as much absurd fun as Bride of the Monster or Wood’s masterpiece Plan 9 from Outer Space, but it has its moments.